Have You Watched "Avatar" Yet? It's AMAZING!

[rootX]

I'm thinking this is possible with many, many movie combinations.

What's more in all these movies ..

 

[Pyrrhus]

Yea, the movie is good.

 

[G01]

Let's be honest! The plot has been done before and the writing was so-so. BUT, the 3d experience was top notch. I think it definitely sets the bar for the next crop of movies.

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet or not, but if not here: (Plot Spoiler)

http://9gag.com/photo/16103_full.jpg

http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/epic-fail-avatar-plot-fail.jpg

[/URL]

Apparently It has been posted nevermind!

 

[cronxeh]

You guys don't get it. These stories of guy attacks a village, falls in love with a village girl and decides to stay etc., are not new. This theme has been around for as long as monkeys did each other in the... Point is, James Cameron delivered the message. It was finally delivered in the way that let's you enjoy it. Dances with Wolves? Ew. Pokahontas? Ew. Ferngully? Ew. Troy? The list goes on, but there is a reason we enjoy books and not their adaptations - our imagination filled in the blanks. In this case, Cameron allowed our brain to rest and just enjoy that which most of us imagined of for a long time now. And as of this writing, Avatar grossed in $1331 million. That 1.331 BILLION dollars

 

[DaveC426913]

You guys don't get it. These stories of guy attacks a village, falls in love with a village girl and decides to stay etc., are not new.

Yes, but we're not talking about general story lines. The similarity between Avatar and Fern Gully is positively spooky.

Or at least, it would be spooky if the timing hadn't been so suspicious. It came to him in a dream?? Within two years of the release of Fern Gully?

 

[Topher925]

I saw it last night. It was a pretty movie, but kinda boring. If it wasn't for the 3D (which was well done) I would describe it as "lame".

 

[joelupchurch]

Here is a blog post with a completely different take on the plot that make more sense than the usual Dances With Wolves analogies.

http://ideas.4brad.com/avatar-isnt-dances-wolves-its-another-plot"

 

[DaveC426913]

Here is a blog post with a completely different take on the plot that make more sense than the usual Dances With Wolves analogies.

http://ideas.4brad.com/avatar-isnt-dances-wolves-its-another-plot"

Amusing, but merely fanciful. It's not meant to be a serious interpretation.

It's more akin to a ... hm, what would you call it ... fan ret-con? What is it called when fans of a film invent a super-story around the existing story to rationalize loose-ends? There's a theory that Chewbacca and R2D2 are the true leaders of the Rebellion.

 

[Newai]

Amusing, but merely fanciful. It's not meant to be a serious interpretation.

It's more akin to a ... hm, what would you call it ... fan ret-con? What is it called when fans of a film invent a super-story around the existing story to rationalize loose-ends? There's a theory that Chewbacca and R2D2 are the true leaders of the Rebellion.

I need to hear this one. Sounds very interesting.

 

[Sorry!]

Cronxeh why does how much money the movie grossed matter at all? I do not think this is an indication of how 'good' the movie was... just that a crap load of people went to watch it.

 

[Chi Meson]

Cronxeh why does how much money the movie grossed matter at all? I do not think this is an indication of how 'good' the movie was... just that a crap load of people went to watch it.

If I may,

The fact that this movie grossed 1.3 buttloads of bucks is at least partially an indication of its quality. I do not think anyone is under the illusion that the story was great, but the production was masterful. It really was. Anyone can entertain fools with a flashy movie, but that might get you through the first $100 million gross. You do not accidentally make a movie that scores that big without having some genuine quality behind it.

I'm not saying that you are required to like it. And folks who did not enjoy it should not employ the notion that those who did are somehow stupid or deluded (not to say anyone here said so).

I do not easily get sucked onto fads. I don't follow trends. I never saw Titanic, and I don't intend to even rent it. But this move, I've seen twice (see above) and I have no qualms about having spent the time or the money.

 

[Sorry!]

If I may,

The fact that this movie grossed 1.3 buttloads of bucks is at least partially an indication of its quality. I do not think anyone is under the illusion that the story was great, but the production was masterful. It really was. Anyone can entertain fools with a flashy movie, but that might get you through the first $100 million gross. You do not accidentally make a movie that scores that big without having some genuine quality behind it.

I disagree. I actually almost fell asleep while watch Avatar, some of the ideas I admit were pretty cool but that was it... the 3D didn't put me in awe, I've seen the effects better pulled of when I went to wonderland and saw spongebob square pants for the 5 minute 3D ride. I think the over-hype of it being 3D and 'oh-so great' definitely killed it when I watched the movie. It being SO damn predictable just killed all that hype. I wasn't thinking about anything during the movie but I knew exactly where it was going and how it was going to get there...
Look at this list:
http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide
Look at the company that Avatar is in, Titanic of course was a very good movie but Dark Knight? Far from. Harry Potter? The movies were horrid relative to the books the last few movies didn't even follow what occurred in the books for the most part.

You say that you can entertain any fools with flashy movies but that would only bring you to the 100$ million mark... what about say revenge of the fallen? 835 million. What about 2012? 764 million and that movie was disgustingly horrible from acting straight to the story. There definitely are many movies that are great that do make a lot of money and they are definitely on that list but just because a movie made a lot of money means NOTHING to me about it's quality.

As well each movie ticket for 3D Imax around here cost like 5$ extra or something to that extent. That's like 1.5 times the regular ticket price to pay to see this thing in 3D, combine that with the hype that surrounded it and people who swear by it going to watch it and paying the extra money twice(so in effect they have paid for 3 regular price tickets) and BAM you got yourself a cool 1.3 billion dollars.

Lol, they should have made 2012 in 3D as well, that way the fools could have paid closer to the 1 billion mark.

 

[leroyjenkens]

Look at the company that Avatar is in, Titanic of course was a very good movie but Dark Knight? Far from. Harry Potter? The movies were horrid relative to the books the last few movies didn't even follow what occurred in the books for the most part.

Dark Knight and the Harry Potter films have gotten good reviews from critics.
The movies aren't bad just because you don't like them.

People wouldn't see Avatar 2 and 3 times if it was a bad movie. If it was just the 3D that makes people go see it in droves, The Final Destination would have made a billion dollars too.

 

[mgb_phys]

I do not think anyone is under the illusion that the story was great, but the production was masterful. ... You do not accidentally make a movie that scores that big without having some genuine quality behind it.

Or some novelty.
Star wars was hardly the most original plot in the world and the least said about the dialog and acting the better - but it was a good movie experience.

Ironically Avatar looks like it won't make $gaziilions if it's banned in the biggest market for it's subversive anti-government political message. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703652104574651764117659286.html

 

[DaveC426913]

People wouldn't see Avatar 2 and 3 times if it was a bad movie.

This is not true.

 

[ideasrule]

Ironically Avatar looks like it won't make $gaziilions if it's banned in the biggest market for it's subversive anti-government political message. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703652104574651764117659286.html

I thought that the Chinese would support it for being anti-colonialist, as they used to--and to some extent, still do--label Western countries as colonial powers exploiting China. Apparently, the human flaw of apophenia is worse than I expected.

 

[russ_watters]

Cronxeh why does how much money the movie grossed matter at all? I do not think this is an indication of how 'good' the movie was... just that a crap load of people went to watch it.

Well I guess you'll need to define what makes a movie "good"...recognize that the film industry is an industry and the primary goal of moviemaking is to make money. There is a secondary group of films and film companies interested in art, but even they are constrained by money and in any case, this isn't a film designed to be artistic. It is a movie designed to make money by being a technologically cutting-edge, absorbing theatrical experience.

So by my estimation, by the only real relevant criteria, this is the second best movie of all time, and may soon become the best.

Or, think about it another way: presumably people watch their favorite movie more than other movies. I'd say Star Wars is probably my favorite of all time and it is the only movie that I've purposely seen more than once (though I've found recently I'm getting bored with it...). So if everyone thought the same as me, Star Wars would be the highest grossing movie of all time. The money follows the popularity (obviously).

 

[leroyjenkens]

This is not true.

This is not true.

 

[DaveC426913]

This is not true.

Glad you agree.

 

[Borg]

I knew in advance what the general plot was and, like others, saw things coming before they happened. I still enjoyed the movie. After the movie, I wanted to see it again and had an odd feeling of mild depression for a day afterward. Then I found out that I wasn't alone.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/avatar.movie.blues/"

What kills me is the picture of the audience. Who brings a large pizza to a movie theater?

 

[Chi Meson]

I knew in advance what the general plot was and, like others, saw things coming before they happened. I still enjoyed the movie. After the movie, I wanted to see it again and had an odd feeling of mild depression for a day afterward. Then I found out that I wasn't alone.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/avatar.movie.blues/"

That's a little spooky. I think that if some people got out into our own wildernesses for a while, they'd find that we do have a lot of "Pandora" here on Earth. And after a few days, maybe a week of some good backcountry hiking, they'll be ready to get back to their coffee makers and Cable TV.

If that is a byproduct of this movie (more people turning to appreciate our natural areas) then it was worth it.

 

[leroyjenkens]

I knew in advance what the general plot was and, like others, saw things coming before they happened. I still enjoyed the movie. After the movie, I wanted to see it again and had an odd feeling of mild depression for a day afterward. Then I found out that I wasn't alone.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/avatar.movie.blues/"

What kills me is the picture of the audience. Who brings a large pizza to a movie theater?

That's strange. I was happy after the movie because it turned out like I hoped it would. Even the final 5 seconds of the film were exactly the way I thought and hoped it would end. It never crossed my mind that I wish the Earth was like Pandora. Why would I want to live in a jungle like that?

 

[Dembadon]

That's a little spooky. I think that if some people got out into our own wildernesses for a while, they'd find that we do have a lot of "Pandora" here on Earth. And after a few days, maybe a week of some good backcountry hiking, they'll be ready to get back to their coffee makers and Cable TV.

If that is a byproduct of this movie (more people turning to appreciate our natural areas) then it was worth it.

I think you've made a good point, Chi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desolation_Wilderness" was my backyard growing up. My friends and I played in the woods until sunset every day in the spring and summer (too much snow in winter). Whenever I feel like I am getting restless or a feeling of general anxiousness, I try to work in a camping, mtb, backpacking, etc. weekend. The vicarious thrills and experiences one gets through movies, even good ones, will never displace the experience of raw wilderness.

 

[Chi Meson]

I disagree. I actually almost fell asleep while watch Avatar, some of the ideas I admit were pretty cool but that was it... the 3D didn't put me in awe, I've seen the effects better pulled of when I went to wonderland and saw spongebob square pants for the 5 minute 3D ride. I think the over-hype of it being 3D and 'oh-so great' definitely killed it when I watched the movie. It being SO damn predictable just killed all that hype. I wasn't thinking about anything during the movie but I knew exactly where it was going and how it was going to get there...
Look at this list:
http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide
Look at the company that Avatar is in, Titanic of course was a very good movie but Dark Knight? Far from. Harry Potter? The movies were horrid relative to the books the last few movies didn't even follow what occurred in the books for the most part.

You say that you can entertain any fools with flashy movies but that would only bring you to the 100$ million mark... what about say revenge of the fallen? 835 million. What about 2012? 764 million and that movie was disgustingly horrible from acting straight to the story. There definitely are many movies that are great that do make a lot of money and they are definitely on that list but just because a movie made a lot of money means NOTHING to me about it's quality.

As well each movie ticket for 3D Imax around here cost like 5$ extra or something to that extent. That's like 1.5 times the regular ticket price to pay to see this thing in 3D, combine that with the hype that surrounded it and people who swear by it going to watch it and paying the extra money twice(so in effect they have paid for 3 regular price tickets) and BAM you got yourself a cool 1.3 billion dollars.

Lol, they should have made 2012 in 3D as well, that way the fools could have paid closer to the 1 billion mark.

I sincerely hope that you are not calling me a fool, Sorry!

It's understandable, you didn't like it. Fine. You like a good plot and good writing. So do I. I'm not saying Avatar makes one of my favorite of all time movies, because it isn't. In my opinion, it was a fantastic experience in 3D (not IMAX, just regular 3D). I do not think that it would be worth it to even rent the DVD once it comes out because the size and resolution of the digital theater was 80% of the experience.

The only thing I ask is, please do not imply that I did not or should not have enjoyed it. Please to not suggest that I have somehow cowed to pressure or hype or whatever and am following the lemmings or whatever. In fact, Titanic was the movie I could not stand (I left after 1 hour).

David Denby, critic for the New Yorker and one who does not suffer bad movies gladly, opens his review with the line "Avatar is the most beautiful movie I have seen in years." I have to say I agree with that sentiment (Anthony Lane is the New Yorker's more piercing critic; he may have had something else to say).

 

[joelupchurch]

That's a little spooky. I think that if some people got out into our own wildernesses for a while, they'd find that we do have a lot of "Pandora" here on Earth. And after a few days, maybe a week of some good backcountry hiking, they'll be ready to get back to their coffee makers and Cable TV.

If that is a byproduct of this movie (more people turning to appreciate our natural areas) then it was worth it.

I don't know what hemisphere you live in but it ain't exactly hiking weather up North. I live in Florida, but even here has been having record cold. Most of the people are coming out of theater into a world that is cold and gray.

I noticed that one of the major quotes in the article was from Sweden. They are only getting 6 hours of daylight this time of year, which is pretty depressing to begin with.

 

[Q_Goest]

I don't know what hemisphere you live in but it ain't exactly hiking weather up North.

actually, I kinda like hiking in the snow. Skiing is even better!

Must be my cold heart.

 

[Q_Goest]

The Vatican newspaper and radio station are criticizing James Cameron's 3-D blockbuster for flirting with the idea that worship of nature can replace religion — a notion the pope has warned against. They call the movie a simplistic and sappy tale, despite its awe-inspiring special effects.

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/vatican-says-avatar-no-masterpiece-ap

Does religion surgically remove your imagination? Or just the neurons that love nature?

 

[Dembadon]

actually, I kinda like hiking in the snow. Skiing is even better!

Must be my cold heart.

Snowshoeing is great fun! It's something I'd recommend to anyone.

 

[Dembadon]

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/vatican-says-avatar-no-masterpiece-ap

Does religion surgically remove your imagination? Or just the neurons that love nature?

I think it has been known to remove the entire brain in many cases.

 

[mgb_phys]

They (the vatican) call the movie a simplistic and sappy tale, despite its awe-inspiring special effects.

Look whose talking!

 

[bassplayer142]

A lot can be said about this movie and judgine by this being the 12th page it already has. I personally saw this movie twice so far and it is brilliant. Some people can say that they saw where it was going and that it was predicatable. But sometimes its a good feeling to see the good guys prosper condisering the evil evil humans thought in the movie. Don't judge me too fast as some transformers or 2012 cgi lover as I dispise those movies. But the plot was great, the ideas and alien culture was thought out well.

An most of all, it was very immersive partly by the 3d and the story.

Hopefully the people who are depressed about our Earth will realize that if you grew up in a world of avatar than Earth would be just as amazing looking with its variety of different plant and animal life.

By the way, did anyone draw parallels between Avatar and Dances with Wolves?

Edit:
Without going into religion, why does the vatican feel they should comment on a Sci fi movie? Don't they have better things to do?

 

[DaveC426913]

But the plot was great, the ideas and alien culture was thought out well.

Strange. I said the exact opposite.

I can't recall a single idea in the film that was not directly taken from some other story. Cameron didn't even bother to put a fresh coat of paint on them.

The alien biology was poorly-thought out too. How much brain-power does it require to take an Earth horse and add a pair of legs and the head of an anteater?

http://christybharath.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/pleased_to_meet_you_im_an_anteater.jpg


And why is all of Pandoran fauna hexapedal but the humanoids are bi(quadro)pedal?

By the way, did anyone draw parallels between Avatar and Dances with Wolves?

Indeed, it is mockingly being called Fern Gully with Wolves.


Not to say I didn't enjoy the film, it's just that, the more I think about it, the more I realize I've paid good money for old ideas.

 

[bassplayer142]

Strange. I said the exact opposite.

I can't recall a single idea in the film that was not directly taken from some other story. Cameron didn't even bother to put a fresh coat of paint on them.

The alien biology was poorly-thought out too. How much brain-power does it require to take an Earth horse and add a pair of legs and the head of an anteater?

http://christybharath.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/pleased_to_meet_you_im_an_anteater.jpg


And why is all of Pandoran fauna hexapedal but the humanoids are bi(quadro)pedal?


Indeed, it is mockingly being called Fern Gully with Wolves.


Not to say I didn't enjoy the film, it's just that, the more I think about it, the more I realize I've paid good money for old ideas.

I wonder how many ideas are truly original today anyway. Most anyone can draw parallels from every movie with only the memories of a miniscule percentage of movies, songs, literature combined.

I guess in the end its all a matter of opinion though.

 

[cronxeh]

Look whose talking!

Yes.. they should have thrown in a little boy and a priest in the background for some realism, doing the .. oh I'm getting another warning aren't I..

 

[NeoDevin]

Edit:
Without going into religion, why does the vatican feel they should comment on a Sci fi movie? Don't they have better things to do?

When their entire purpose for existence is to offer comment on a fantasy book, it's not a big stretch to offer commentary on a sci-fi movie.

 

[DaveC426913]

When their entire purpose for existence is to offer comment on a fantasy book, it's not a big stretch to offer commentary on a sci-fi movie.

ba-ZING!

 

[DaveC426913]

I wonder how many ideas are truly original today anyway. Most anyone can draw parallels from every movie with only the memories of a miniscule percentage of movies, songs, literature combined.

I guess in the end its all a matter of opinion though.

Yes, but there's a difference between being inspired by an original and simply copying it.

When you accumulate these copies, you start to realize that, rather than an original piece of art with its own message, the creation is more like a collage of pictures torn form magazines.

 

[Chi Meson]

Yes, but there's a difference between being inspired by an original and simply copying it.

When you accumulate these copies, you start to realize that, rather than an original piece of art with its own message, the creation is more like a collage of pictures torn form magazines.

I agree with this statement, but I also think that Avatar is the best "collage" I've ever seen.

Sort of like an artist who does a portrait, or a still life of a bowl of fruit, or a landscape. Those have all been done before, but still there are the "good" and "great" paintings of fruit, or a face, or a lake. It's a similar thing. This is a visually stunning film, and I like visuals. I think I would have liked it better if I couldn't understand the language at all (English OR whatever the blue people spoke).

 

[DaveC426913]

I agree with this statement, but I also think that Avatar is the best "collage" I've ever seen.

Sort of like an artist who does a portrait, or a still life of a bowl of fruit, or a landscape. Those have all been done before, but still there are the "good" and "great" paintings of fruit, or a face, or a lake.

IMO, Cameron is not making painting of a bowl of fruit, he's torn a picture of a bowl of fruit out of a magazine.

I've got to be careful not to mix up the metaphors. I'm not suggesting the whole film is the bowl of fruit, I'm suggesting that certain parts of the film, for example, the plot, are pictures torn out of ... well ... out of the poster for Fern Gully. It's the same plot. He's added nothing new to the plot.

 

[Chi Meson]

IMO, Cameron is not making painting of a bowl of fruit, he's torn a picture of a bowl of fruit out of a magazine.

I've got to be careful not to mix up the metaphors. I'm not suggesting the whole film is the bowl of fruit, I'm suggesting that certain parts of the film, for example, the plot, are pictures torn out of ... well ... out of the poster for Fern Gully. It's the same plot. He's added nothing new to the plot.

I get your point, and I think I agree with your assessment. Perhaps I am not so irritated by the "plot" due to the fact that I never saw Fern Gully, Dances with Wolves, or Pocahontas. Still I am well aware of that general theme and I was quite prepared to find nothing new re "plot." So I went to see it with my expectations tempered.

I was far more irritated by the lack of character development, generally poor dialog, and very lame attempts at one-liners. If Cameron had a 1/2-decent writer spice up the script, I think the movie could have ratcheted up a notch.

 

[leroyjenkens]

I get your point, and I think I agree with your assessment. Perhaps I am not so irritated by the "plot" due to the fact that I never saw Fern Gully, Dances with Wolves, or Pocahontas. Still I am well aware of that general theme and I was quite prepared to find nothing new re "plot." So I went to see it with my expectations tempered.

The plot was new to you. Why does just the knowledge of the fact the plot had been done before detract from the movie?

What was the first movie to use the Avatar premise? Were all subsequent movies after that one criticized? Or is it the popularity of Avatar that is evoking the criticism?

 

[Chi Meson]

The plot was new to you. Why does just the knowledge of the fact the plot had been done before detract from the movie?

What was the first movie to use the Avatar premise? Were all subsequent movies after that one criticized? Or is it the popularity of Avatar that is evoking the criticism?

Hang on, I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy this movie. You missed my point there, read it again. The plot is NOT what bothered me. I wasn't expecting clever twists and new messages, so I wasn't "disappointed" there. I'm admitting to some irritations and distractions due to the script, but overall I enjoyed both times I saw it.

And I know that there is a collection of people who do heavily criticize anything that is popular because I am among them. I used to be a lot worse (Did you know that I once heavily criticized the Beatles?). Anything that is that huge will have its flaws magnified. But these days I am just as adamant at acknowledging greatness along with flaws. I must be getting old.

 

[MotoH]

I watched it the other night.

What a shyte movie. If I wanted to see Cats the musical and halo 3 I would have gone to broadway and brought a portable 360 with me.

The graphics were good, but the movie sucked hard overall.

 

[Loren Booda]

One physics blunder: when cracked, the mask of the marine sergeant showed gas entering, even though the atmospheric pressure was lower outside than pressure inside the mask.

 

[waht]

Avatar is about to become the top grossing film of all time:

No. 1 for the sixth-straight weekend with $36 million, the 20th Century Fox sci-fi spectacle lifted its domestic total to $552.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. "Avatar" raised its worldwide total to $1.841 billion. That's $2 million shy of first place behind Cameron's last movie, the 1997 shipwreck epic "Titanic," at $1.843 billion.

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/avatar-tops-box-office-sixthstraight-week-ap

 

[Nebula815]

Some people rate the film as being in their top five films of all time, others say it is a lousy movie with great graphics. I still need to see it.

 

[leroyjenkens]

I watched it the other night.

What a shyte movie. If I wanted to see Cats the musical and halo 3 I would have gone to broadway and brought a portable 360 with me.

The graphics were good, but the movie sucked hard overall.

In the other Avatar thread, you mentioned that you missed the first hour of the movie. How can you so confindently say how bad a movie is if you missed the first hour of it?

 

[MotoH]

In the other Avatar thread, you mentioned that you missed the first hour of the movie. How can you so confindently say how bad a movie is if you missed the first hour of it?

Was there something spectacular that I missed in the first hour that made up for the asshatery that went on during the last 3/4th's of the movie? If so please let me know.

Since when would we destroy such a large target with an out of date bomb? If we wanted to blow the blue kitties back to the stone age we would have nuked that goofy rib cage lookin' thing from orbit and called her a day. I hate movies that make the humans (esp. the military) look like a bunch of idiots.

 

[DaveC426913]

Welcome back MotoH.

Was there something spectacular that I missed in the first hour that made up for the asshatery that went on during the last 3/4th's of the movie? If so please let me know.

Nope. The plot was pretty weak throughout.

Since when would we destroy such a large target with an out of date bomb? If we wanted to blow the blue kitties back to the stone age we would have nuked that goofy rib cage lookin' thing from orbit and called her a day. I hate movies that make the humans (esp. the military) look like a bunch of idiots.

This is a weak argument though. Picking at the plausibility of a military action? We can't know what led them to that strategy; all we can do is accept that they have good reason.

At the every least, they're not trying to wipe them out; it is rationalized more as a "relocation" than a rout. They don't want to kill everyone.

 

[MotoH]

Welcome back MotoH.

Nope. The plot was pretty weak throughout.

This is a weak argument though. Picking at the plausibility of a military action? We can't know what led them to that strategy; all we can do is accept that they have good reason.

At the every least, they're not trying to wipe them out; it is rationalized more as a "relocation" than a rout. They don't want to kill everyone.

There have been much better ways at relocation than how they went about it than. The only plausible way I see of removing such a species from an area is by direct military action. The main reason in my mind that the military was defeated by these giant felines is they did not have enough troops. In an ordinary battle on earth, the kill ratio is around 3:1, or 3 attackers for every one defender. That is human v. human. Now facing these giant felines, you could expect it to be around 7:1 or so, just considering the felines knowledge of the battlefield.
Finding the true strength of their army is the first action that would need to be taken, which entails recon of the whole planet for possible allies, I would also look for potential enemies to cut deals with (more land for them if they help).
Next is to find out their main reason for defending an area, which in this case is the "Mother Nature" tree. The attacking force would not really know what it did, but they knew it holds significant religious value. Destroying this target will either make the forces crumble because there is no reason to defend the land anymore, or make them even more ferocious. Dropping something on this tree that will exhibit shock and awe with minimal amount of civilian casualties is the best course of action, because I guarantee you most of them will not want to fight after their religious tree goes up in a fireball that reaches to the upper atmosphere.

Of course peaceful negotiations would have started the whole thing off, which for the most part is to gain intel on the felines and not so much in the hopes of reaching a peaceful agreement.

I think I have gone way to far into this.